So, 'made in Taiwan' - is it important?

[cce]

by all accounts, a good chunk of the altitude cycles built konas were wonky at best.

another good point

many hots used the same tubes as explosifs, but were welded together by tom teesdale. i dont see how they can be 2x the price better.

oh - custom geometry is a different matter.

 

[Scrat]

I'd love to see you all in a blind test :roll:

Most asian built frames will kick butt over a hand made US/UK/where ever frame because they're made by multi million dollar robots. Once set up "correctly" you'll get a perfect frame time after time after time.

Every high end USA built frame I've owned - Intense, Foes', Team GTs, Manitou FS, Have had quirks. Whether it be straightness, sizes, angles etc
Oh and most of them failed at the weld

To be honest my Orange Patriot is damn near perfect. But sometimes you do get a good one.

Asian production IS cheap, Its reliable, but the QC does suffer a bit.

Take a casual look around you.
Would you have as much stuff and be living in the lifestyle you lead if the asians wern't making it.

Stop being elitist and nationalistic racists :!:

 

[ash710]

Interesting topic... I've currently got a US built 2000 GT Timberline and a 'UK designed' 'made in Taiwan' Genesis and the Genesis wins hands down in every department. It's a cracking frame for the money.

 

[legrandefromage]

Take a casual look around you.
Would you have as much stuff and be living in the lifestyle you lead if the asians wern't making it.

Stop being elitist and nationalistic racists :!:

My Sony TV was made in Wales, Dyson was made in the UK when first out, my stereo was made 3 miles from my house FFS, so, er yes and I dont remember typing anything about being a nationalistic racist in my initial thread start you Aussie (fluffy kitten)wit.

 

[Andy R]

Take a casual look around you.
Would you have as much stuff and be living in the lifestyle you lead if the asians wern't making it.

Only too true........

 

[Anthony]

On average, is a car made in a UK factory likely to be as well built and reliable as a car made in a Japanese factory? Do Japan-built cars sell because they're cheap? I don't think so. Or is it because they have an excellent reputation for reliability?

Same with Taiwanese frames. The quality is at least as high as workers in any other country achieve, basically because they are good workers and they work in huge well-equipped factories, where every worker just does one task, not the entire frame. It's mass production vs cottage industry, and cottage industry can't really compete with the advantages of scale, either in price or in quality.

Incidentally talk of 'hand-built' is inappropriate. All frames are hand-welded, and nobody uses robot welding, except for one Merida factory churning out low-end stuff. It's all down to welders and Taiwanese welders are very good at it.

 

[Steve Kish]

For me:-

Made in Taiwan = probably quite acceptable
Made in Thailand = dubious!!

 

[Eddie King]

Stop being elitist and nationalistic racists :!:

:roll: .....meanwhile....and hopefully back on topic......got a GT Arrowhead made in Taiwan....and GT Zaskar made in the U.S.....am nothing more than an enthusiastic cyclist so for me both ride great....sure I like the idea of some guy making it in sunny California.....but then again robots don't have to breathe in all those welding fumes (EDIT "All frames are hand-welded, and nobody uses robot welding" - oops ...now I know then).....but more to the point absolutely noone from GT or any other manufacturer is ever likely to ask me my preference for where my bike is made

 

[ededwards]

It may 'feel' nicer to have an Italian built road bike but will it be of better quality than one built elsewhere to decent specification? Probably not, but that does not factor in pride of ownership which is really important in how nice a bike 'feels'.

As I think already stated, beside ethics, it is irrelevant where something is made as long as the quality control is at an acceptable level. I can't think of any cold, rational explanation why a bike built in one country or another will be any better/worse if the same quality standards apply.

 

[brocklanders023]

For me:-

Made in Taiwan = probably quite acceptable
Made in Thailand = dubious!!

Why 'made in Thailand = dubious'? From my experiance of the country they are some of the hardest working people you'll ever meet. Give 'em the same kit + training and I'm sure they'd turn out equipment as good as anyone else. If they have nothing else they have huge pride.